Navy Hall, Military heritage building in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada

Navy Hall is a wooden storehouse built shortly after the War of 1812, later encased in stone and moved to its present site by the Niagara Parks Commission in the 1930s. It sits on Ricardo Street near the Niagara River, across from Fort George and facing Fort Niagara in New York.

The original Navy Hall was built in 1765 as a Royal Navy supply depot and shipyard, and Provincial Marine vessels wintered there during the American Revolution. John Graves Simcoe converted one building into his residence and office in 1792, and the first parliamentary session there opened on September 17, 1792. U.S. artillery destroyed the complex in the War of 1812; the present wooden storehouse was rebuilt shortly after and encased in stone in the 1930s.

Navy Hall takes its name from the naval depot established here in 1765, and its riverside setting still recalls that role. After the parliament left in 1796, officers from Fort George used the building as a dining hall. Today it is rented for private functions and holds artifacts from more than 200 years of history.

The site is managed by Parks Canada as part of the Fort George National Historic Site. Visitors can locate it easily along the waterfront promenade where it sits alongside other historic structures.

The original wooden structure was encased in stone during the 1930s to protect it while preserving its historical character. This approach to renovation shows how early buildings were reinforced without altering their appearance.